Prednisolone: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Anti-inflammatory

Also known as

Prelone, Delta-Cortef, Pediapred

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats, Cattle, Horses, Birds, Ferrets, Hedgehogs and Primates

General dose range

0.5–2 mg/kg PO q12–24h — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO, IM, IV

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA)
• Immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP)
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Atopic dermatitis / allergic skin disease
• Feline asthma / bronchitis
• Lymphoma (part of CHOP / COP protocols)
• Addisonian crisis (glucocorticoid replacement)
• Equine recurrent airway obstruction

Prednisolone dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Anti-inflammatory: Papich 5e: 0.5–1 mg/kg PER DAY (may be split q12h), then taper to 0.3–0.5 mg/kg q48h. Plumb’s p.998: 0.5–1 mg/kg PO per day (Maddison 2009); 0.55–1.1 mg/kg/day once or divided (Lowe 2008). Use the lowest effective dose; taper to alternate-day therapy.
• Immunosuppressive (IMHA / ITP): Doses are PER DAY. Plumb’s p.998: up to 2.2 mg/kg/day (not above 80 mg/day per dog) — higher doses add adverse effects, not immunosuppression; sample taper 2.2 → 1 → 0.5 mg/kg/day at 3-week steps, then 0.5 mg/kg q48h (Wilson 2011); Maddison: 1.5–4 mg/kg/day. Papich 5e: 2.2–6.6 mg/kg/day initially, rarely needing >4 mg/kg/day. Add a second immunosuppressant rather than exceeding these.
• Lymphoma (COP protocol): Plumb’s p.998 (Maddison 2009): antineoplastic prednis(ol)one 2 mg/kg per day — kept fairly high as a single agent and tapered within multi-drug protocols; consult an oncologist. Papich 5e (prednisone, COAP): 40 mg/m² q24h for 7 days, then 20 mg/m² every other day.
• Shock / CNS trauma - SODIUM SUCCINATE only: Papich 5e: 15-30 mg/kg IV for shock (Papich states the effectiveness of this use is controversial) and for CNS trauma, tapering to 1-2 mg/kg q12h. SODIUM SUCCINATE salt ONLY - the oral tablet and acetate suspension must never be used this way. High-dose steroid for CNS trauma is no longer standard of care in most guidelines; recorded here because the reference documents it.

Cats

• Anti-inflammatory / allergic: Plumb’s p.998: anti-inflammatory 0.55–1.1 mg/kg/day in dogs or cats, once or divided (Lowe 2008); cats are relatively steroid-resistant and often need about twice the canine dose. Use prednisolone, not prednisone, in cats (poor conversion). Taper to the lowest alternate-day dose.
• Immunosuppressive (IMHA / IBD): Plumb’s p.998: cats often need up to 4.4 mg/kg/day (sample taper 4.4 → 2.2 → 1 mg/kg/day at 3-week steps, then 1 mg/kg q48h; Wilson 2011); range 2.2–8.8 mg/kg/day (Lowe 2008). Papich 5e: cats usually need about twice the dog dose. Use prednisOLONE, not prednisone. Monitor glucose (steroid diabetes).
• Feline asthma: Plumb’s p.547 (Padrid 2006): cats with bronchial signs more than once weekly — prednisolone 1–2 mg/kg PO twice daily for 5–7 days, then taper slowly over at least 2–3 months; move to inhaled fluticasone for long-term control.

Cattle

• Anti-inflammatory (extra-label): Plumb’s p.998 (Howard 1986): prednisolone sodium succinate 0.2–1 mg/kg IV or IM for glucocorticoid activity; cerebral oedema with polioencephalomalacia 1–4 mg/kg IV (Dill 1986). Papich 5e: ketosis 100–200 mg total IM. CAUTION: may induce abortion. Extra-label — FARAD withdrawal.

Horses

• Recurrent airway obstruction: Plumb’s p.370: oral prednisolone 1 mg/kg PO daily for 4 days, 0.75 mg/kg for 4 days, 0.5 mg/kg for 4 days (Courouce-Malblanc 2008); 2 mg/kg PO once daily for 7 days (Leclere 2010) — with environmental control. Papich 5e (sodium succinate): 0.5–1 mg/kg q12–24h IM or IV. Laminitis risk.
• Shock - SODIUM SUCCINATE only: Papich 5e: 15-30 mg/kg IV, repeat in 4-6 hours. SODIUM SUCCINATE salt only. Weigh against a real laminitis risk in horses.

Buffalo

No buffalo-specific doses are on file, so buffalo are dosed as cattle.

• Anti-inflammatory (extra-label): Plumb’s p.998 (Howard 1986): prednisolone sodium succinate 0.2–1 mg/kg IV or IM for glucocorticoid activity; cerebral oedema with polioencephalomalacia 1–4 mg/kg IV (Dill 1986). Papich 5e: ketosis 100–200 mg total IM. CAUTION: may induce abortion. Extra-label — FARAD withdrawal.

Birds

• Anti-inflammatory: Plumb’s p.999 (Clubb 1986): 0.2 mg per 30 g body weight (≈6.7 mg/kg) PO twice daily — e.g. one 5 mg tablet dissolved in 2.5 mL water, 2 drops orally; reduce the schedule for long-term use. Birds are sensitive to corticosteroid immunosuppression.
• Shock — SODIUM SUCCINATE only: Plumb’s p.999 (Clubb 1986): prednisolone sodium succinate (10 mg/mL) 0.1–0.2 mL per 100 g body weight (= 10–20 mg/kg), repeated every 15 minutes to effect; in large birds the dose may be halved.

Ferrets

• Anti-inflammatory / insulinoma: Plumb’s p.999 (Williams 2000): 0.5–2 mg/kg PO or IM (frequency not specified) as an anti-inflammatory or for insulinoma, post-surgical or non-surgical.

Hedgehogs

• Anti-inflammatory: Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 8-6 (p.518): hedgehogs 0.5–2 mg/kg PO q12–24h.

Primates

• Anti-inflammatory (marmosets, monkeys): Carpenter Exotic Animal Formulary 6th ed, Table 13-7 (p.711): common marmosets (prednisolone sodium succinate) 1 mg/kg PO q24h; chimpanzees/monkeys/lemurs 10 mg/kg IM/IV; prednisone 0.5 mg/kg PO/SC/IM q24h anti-inflammatory.

Contraindications

Systemic fungal infections. Active GI ulceration. Corneal ulcers. Do NOT combine with NSAIDs — additive GI ulceration risk. Live attenuated vaccines during immunosuppressive therapy. Diabetes mellitus (markedly hyperglycaemic, especially in cats). Caution in CHF. Demodex (immunosuppression worsens infestation). Pregnancy (teratogenic — cleft palate).

Species-specific warnings

Dogs: Iatrogenic Cushing's on prolonged use. NEVER with NSAID. Taper after >2 weeks. Always use PREDNISOLONE (active form) for consistency.

Cats: Use PREDNISOLONE not prednisone — cats poorly convert prednisone. Precipitates DIABETES MELLITUS at chronic doses >2 mg/kg/day.

Horses: LAMINITIS RISK — caution in obese / PPID / insulin-resistant horses. Single doses usually safe; chronic = high risk.

Cattle: May induce parturition / abortion. Used for ketosis (5–20 mg IV/IM). Withdrawal: 3 d milk / 5 d slaughter (Indian label).

Birds: EXTREME caution — birds are very sensitive to steroid immunosuppression. Aspergillosis often develops on systemic steroids in raptors.

Adverse effects

• PU/PD/polyphagia (dogs — very common)
• Iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing) with chronic use
• Steroid hepatopathy (elevated ALP/ALT — especially dogs)
• GI ulceration, pancreatitis
• Hyperglycaemia / diabetogenic (especially cats)
• Muscle wasting, skin atrophy, alopecia
• Immunosuppression — secondary infections

Drug interactions

• NSAIDs (meloxicam, carprofen, flunixin): synergistic GI ulceration / perforation — DO NOT combine; washout 5–7 days before starting
• Phenobarbital / phenytoin / rifampicin: induce hepatic metabolism — reduce prednisolone effect
• Insulin / oral hypoglycaemics: prednisolone induces hyperglycaemia — antagonises glucose control
• Digoxin: prednisolone-induced hypokalaemia potentiates digoxin toxicity
• Furosemide / thiazides: additive hypokalaemia
• Anti-cholinesterase (pyridostigmine in myasthenia gravis): reduce response
• Vaccines (live attenuated): immunosuppression may impair response — postpone
• ACE-I (enalapril) / spironolactone: K-sparing helps offset steroid hypokalaemia

Pregnancy and lactation

Crosses placenta. May induce parturition / abortion at high doses, especially in cattle. Teratogenic at high doses in some species (cleft palate). Used cautiously in pregnant patients only when clinically essential. Acceptable for emergency anaphylactic / shock management at any gestational stage.

Monitoring

• Body weight, abdominal distension, muscle mass — Cushing's signs on chronic use
• CBC, biochemistry (ALT, ALP, BUN, electrolytes, glucose) baseline → 2–4 weeks → every 3 months
• Urinalysis (USG <1.020 expected; check for UTI — steroid-treated patients are predisposed)
• Blood pressure — hypertension risk
• Concurrent NSAID review at every visit — NEVER co-administer
• Pre-diabetic patients: monitor blood glucose closely
• Long courses: consider every-other-day dosing once stable to reduce HPA suppression
• Withdrawal periods (cattle prednisolone injection): 3 d milk / 5 d slaughter (Indian label)

Toxicity and overdose

Iatrogenic Cushing's on chronic use: PU/PD/polyphagia, muscle wasting, alopecia, calcinosis cutis, hepatopathy (steroid hepatopathy), diabetes mellitus, immune suppression. GI ulceration / perforation (especially with NSAID stacking, hypoperfusion, high doses). Cats: more resistant to side effects than dogs but DIABETES MELLITUS precipitated at chronic doses >2 mg/kg/day. Horses: LAMINITIS risk — extra caution in obese, PPID, or insulin-resistant horses. Birds: very sensitive to steroid immunosuppression — aspergillosis common.

Management: Discontinue. GI protection: omeprazole 1 mg/kg PO q12h + sucralfate 0.5–1 g PO q6–8h. Aggressive IV fluids + electrolyte correction. Insulin for hyperglycaemia. Monitor for adrenal suppression on withdrawal — TAPER, never stop abruptly after >2 weeks. Iatrogenic Cushing's usually resolves over weeks-months after discontinuation.

Clinical pearls

• Anti-inflammatory: 0.5–1 mg/kg PO q12–24h, taper to lowest effective every-other-day dose for chronic use
• Immunosuppressive (IMHA, IMT, IBD): 2–3 mg/kg PO q12h × 2–4 weeks, then taper over 3–6 months
• Feline asthma: 1–2 mg/kg PO q12h × 10–14 days then taper; transition to inhaled fluticasone for chronic
• Cats: USE PREDNISOLONE, not prednisone — cats lack efficient 11β-HSD to convert prednisone → prednisolone
• Lymphoma (COP / CHOP protocols): 2 mg/kg PO q24h, then taper or pulse per protocol
• NEVER combine with NSAID — GI perforation risk
• Taper after >2 weeks of therapy — iatrogenic Addisonian crisis on abrupt withdrawal
• Bovine ketosis: 5–20 mg IV/IM single dose — gluconeogenesis (similar to dexamethasone but milder mineralocorticoid effect)
• Avoid in horses with metabolic syndrome / PPID — laminitis risk

Mechanism of action

Intermediate-acting synthetic glucocorticoid (~4× cortisol potency, 12–36 h biological half-life). Binds cytosolic glucocorticoid receptor → translocates to nucleus → suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α), induces anti-inflammatory mediators, reduces leukocyte trafficking. Has modest mineralocorticoid (Na-retaining) effect — useful in hypoadrenocorticism management but causes mild oedema / fluid retention at high doses. The active form — CATS cannot efficiently convert PREDNISONE to prednisolone (low 11β-HSD activity), so PREDNISOLONE is preferred in cats.

Formulations and products

• Tablet 5 mg
• Tablet 20 mg
• Oral liquid 3 mg/mL (Prelone syrup)
• Prednisolone sodium succinate injection 10 mg/mL
• Prednisolone Acetate injection 10 mg/mL (MSD, 10 mL vial)
• Prednisolone Acetate Injection (MSD Animal Health) — 10 mg/mL, Injection (for ketosis / shock)
• Inerol (Intas (Neovet)) — Isoflupredone 2 mg/mL, Injection (analogous mineralocorticoid-sparing steroid)
• Sefticort (Virbac) — Isoflupredone acetate, Injection
• Moxomast-200 (Micro Animal Health Care (Micro Labs group), Bengaluru) — Prednisolone 10 mg + Cephalexin 100 mg + Neomycin 100 mg per 5 g, Intramammary infusion syringe

Storage

Tablets: 15–30 °C, dry. Oral suspension: 15–25 °C, do not refrigerate. Injection: 15–25 °C, protect from light. Acetate suspension: shake well before use.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other anti-inflammatory drugs

• Methylprednisolone Acetate
• Nimesulide
• Phenylbutazone
• Piroxicam
• Robenacoxib
• Tolfenamic Acid

Frequently asked questions